Since we have had Louis IV the Fat's thread about France and the war on terror, in light of today's news I thought it was time we had another thread on a similar vein.
This story: US troops ordered to avoid London - source BBC news.
The gist of the story is that US military personnel based in the UK (over 10,000) have been ordered not to go inside the M25 motorway following last Thursday's terror attacks. Family members are also being urged to stay away. The grounds given were that London may still be unsafe and could still be a potential target for terrorists.
Now is this really the appropriate stance for an ally? More to the point, is this not blatant hiprocrisy on the grounds of the Bush administration given their "business will carry on as usual.... the terrorists will not be able to change our ways of life." The BBC article highlights this by saying:
Perhaps the Americans and their leaders are not quite so 'tough' as they would like to think. This is not a one off. US personnel were ordered to stay away from Madrid following last years bombings and were highly advised to avoid vacations to Spain entirely.Details of the travel ban, enforced on Friday, emerged as US President George W Bush said the US would "not retreat in the face of terrorists" .
He said: "In this difficult hour, the people of Great Britain can know the American people stand with you."
While this may seem like somewhat of a token gesture compared to France's unwillingness to comit to the War In Iraq, can this simply be seen as another sign that America is only concerned about terrorism when it presents a direct threat to the security of the United States. Bush's words of support are meaningless if the actions of his administration suggest fear and isolationism rather than bravery and solidarity.
Is it too soon to start rebranding? Would anyone like a warm slice of Freedom Pie?
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